It’s Thursday and it’s time for the last post in the Mrs. Bliss Holiday Workshop
I have really enjoyed this being a part of this series of Holiday Tips and Ideas!! There have been so many wonderful ideas for making our lives easier during this upcoming Holiday Season !! The complete links are at the bottom of the post.
Today I’d love to share a super simple and fun Entertaining idea that can be used all year round!
Chalkboard Chargers
I found some cheap, plastic chargers at my local discount store for $1 each.
1. This is the most important step. If you are using plastic chargers, spray them first with Primer made for Plastic!! I made the mistake the first time of using regular primer. That does not work with plastic! If you use primer for plastic — your chalkboard paint will stick.
2. Spray your chargers with Chalkboard Spray Paint. You can find it at your local hardware store – like Home Depot.
3.Another must have — Chalkboard Pens!!! How did I not know about these before?? They are incredible!!! I big puffy heart them. And they come in all sorts of wonderful colors!! I bought mine at Micheal’s — use a coupon from their website. And they also sell them through Amazon.
Once you get the chargers painted you can use them for all sorts of events during the year.
*Thanksgiving*
*Christmas*
*New Years*
*Halloween*
Some other ideas:
Birthdays
Valentines
Fourth of July
Another chalkboard paint idea —
Make an Ornament Place Card
Paint a rectangle on an ornament with chalkboard paint.
These can be used over and over!
The party continues at these lovely locations:
Housewife Bliss How to prepare for unexpected guests
Mindy Lockard A gracious surprise
Lily Lemon Tree Holiday Style: Defining Modern Festive-Raindeer Sweaters and Jingle Bell Earrings Need Not Apply!
Ab home Interiors Festive Tablescapes: A guide to true Southern style
Lucky Life Parties Creative and Inexpensive Party Favors
The Daily Basics Beautiful Gift Wrapping ideas
Lucky Life Parties Creative and Inexpensive Party Favors
The Daily Basics Beautiful Gift Wrapping ideas
And I just wanted to share Hayley’s pumpkin she made (her friend helped her):
{chalkboard paint AND spider web with the chalkboard pen – so fun to use!}
And look what Ella made today! Yes, we had that much snow!
XOXO
I am linking to these lovely parties:
Thank you for your reply! I actually realized I was using WAY to much spray paint. It takes a very light touch. My 3rd plate came out perfectly! I will work on rest this weekend!! M
HELLO! I read through a couple of tutorials on painting the plastic chargers, and purchased the plastic primer (brand you show) and Chalkboard pain and I am wondering if you roughed up your plates or did something else? I painted the primer about 3:30 p.m. and the chalkboard paint at 9;30 this evening. Correct temperature ranges for both products. The chalkboard paint looked good for a moment or two then started small bubbling and cracking. Any suggestions? I am not a crafty type person ….but I did think I followed the directions!?!? Thank you
marian » I’ve never had that problem — sorry. Perhaps try waiting 24 hours between coats? Also, you might want to try using the chalkboard spray paint in really light layers. Good luck and let me know how it goes! We can share your tips here.
Just loved this post the first time I read it and had to share. Just posted one of your photos and your link in my post and wanted to make sure that was okay with you 😉
http://con-tain-it.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/12/typical-tuesday-6-fun-ways-with-chalkboard-paint.html#tp
I don't have those pens yet…but I am bound and determined…lol
Thanks for the inspiration and wishing you all the best for the holidays. Fondly, Roberta
I just saw this idea and LOVE it. I am going out today to find plastic chargers and the paint. I can't wait to surprise my family with this at the Thanksgiving table. Thanks so much.
I love this idea! I'm featuring this as part of my Chalkboard Paint Inspirations today. Thanks for sharing!
Betsey at b.bar
http://www.bybbar.blogspot.com
I know this wasn't linked up last week, but I was featuring some other chalkboard projects and decided to add this project to my featured post tonight! Miss you!
Jenn- Thanks for another great craft idea….I featured the chalkboard chargers on my blog today.
Taylor
Adorable! Can you erase the chalkboard pens or is it permanent?
Kathleen
http://www.cuisinekathleen.com
I love the versatility of this project! And thanks for the tip on the whole plastic-primer-thing. I'd totally blow that and ruin an awesome project. Thanks!
Those chalkboard chargers are adorable and they look like they would be easy to make. Thanks for sharing the idea. Love & blessings from NC!
Again this is just AMAZING! I'd love it if you'd link up to Topsy Turvy Tuesday's sometime!
Adore this! The deep red against the matte black is so festive. Excuse me, um SNOW!?! So fun! I'd love for you to link up at my ”Sweets This Week” Link Party
Happy Friday to you!
Sarah
This is such a fun project. Great idea! Thanks for sharing.
Vicki at Rusty Rooster Vintage
Jen… this is SO brilliant! I'm having major idea envy :). Just kidding – but I have a stack of gold chargers that I never use… I think I would use them more if I painted them with chalkboard paint! Instead of place cards, you could put your guests names on them.
I'm cracking up as I write this because I wanted to say how the chalkboard paint makes your place settings 'contemporary'. Then I realize just how old I actually am and how long chalkboards have been around, heehee.
But what a great tabletop addition! And it IS stylish. And chalkboard pens? What a cool idea!
Would love for you to stop by this weekend and link up to Passion for Paint!
Love the chargers, what a great idea! I'd never have thought of it, glad I found your post.
I love this idea! I always wanted to get chargers to set the table for special occasions, but don't really have anywhere to store them….the hutch in my dining room is filled with fabric….anyways I would love for you to link up to my Get Organized Giveaway!
http://wildflowersandwhimsy.blogspot.com/2010/11/get-organized-giveaway.html
Gah! SNOW!! And I thought it was cold here in Germany!
This idea is fabulous and I am definitely going to have to start looking around for some cheap chargers to try this. I have some big silver terracotta ones I got from Pier 1 years ago (which I LOVE) but this is a really cute idea to change things up!
Going to tweet this as txblond 🙂
Tiffany
http://www.noordinaryhomestead.com
Love it! I posted your link for tutorial on my humble and newly started blog: smallfineprint.blogspot.com
OMG!!! I just became a follower and have to say this is the BEST idea ever!!!!!!!!!!!! I am REALLY into tablescaping so am going to do this for SURE!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks so much for the idea and tutorial! XO, Pinky
Thank you for your brilliant idea! I totally want to make some. If I can't find cheap chargers, I'll paint my gold ones that I really only use on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. The chalkboard kind will work all 12 months!
I found you through Melissa at Inspired Room. I love your chalkboard charger idea. I had painted some copper after first priming them, because I wanted copper chargers and didn't like the price on copper! I think the chalkboard idea is so amusing and fun. I just added chalkboard paint to the shopping list.
Great idea…I have some black wooden ones that needed touching up and I'll be putting the chalkboard paint to them now. I'm also curious about the PENS? Do they erase easily? Curios minds want to know…thanks, Roberta
[email protected]
http://con-tain-it.typepad.com
Great idea…I haven't used chalkboard paint yet but this inspires me…great snow pic…we had flurries this morning
Stop over to enter a giveaway!
I'm going to have to get a hold of some of those chalk pens! I cannot believe you had enough snow for a snowman. We've been in shorts up until the last couple of days. Crazy weather!
I love this idea. I throw an annual back to school party for my kids each year and this would be such a fun addition, not to mention so versatile. A quick question about the chalkboard pens, do they erase just like regular chalk?
What a brilliant idea! I love how you're able to maintain an elegant look for the holiday table but still have the fun chalkboard element!
This is such a good idea… and they are so pretty too! I'm showing them off on my blog. Man, you've been getting alot of features over there lately. You are just too good!
sassysanctuary.blogspot.com
Brilliant!
Had so much fun doing this Housewifebliss Holiday Workshop – It really got me so much more organized than ever before and I LOVED meeting you- what a great site you have.
Wondering what your experience with the pens is so far as far as them coming off without leaving permanent marks…many amazon reviewers complained about that? Have you tried them on chalkboard vinyl? Do they come off that as well?
Must. Make. Chargers. And I have just the ugly gold plastic ones to do it with too!
Where do I begin, this is a fabulous idea, my head is spinning with excitement to get started on this!
So cool!
I had no idea there was a such thing as chalk pens!
That is a lot of snow!
LOVE this, I went and bought paint and chalk markers this afternoon. Can't wait to try it!!
Kisses
Heather from WhipperBerry
Love t his great idea Jen!!
BRILLIANT! This is one of those "why didn't I think of that" projects. Just brilliant! I am SO doing this!
That is such a cute snowman! Great job! Can't believe you had snow!
You amaze me!
Love,
Jen at The Gifted Giver
http://www.thegiftedgiver.com
You rock! I love this!
LOVE this idea of using the ornaments as a place card!! Fabulous post!
{Sigh}, I never get tired of chalkboard paint! Those are some darn cute ideas. Gonna use them for sure.
Simply genius! I have some chargers I was planning to drop off at Goodwill. Not anymore!!
Oooh! That is such a cool idea!
LOVE this idea!! I've seen plastic chargers on sale lately…must remember to grab some (or a bunch)!
A. LOOK at that SNOW!!!
B. Love those chargers!
D. Must find chalk pens!
D. Primer for plastic…learned something new today!
Thank you, Jen! Your blog is always so inspiring!
What a brilliant idea!! Very creative 😉
P.S-I'm a bit jealous of the snow. Here in California we don't get to experience the full effects of the seasons!
http://chroniclesofaworkingmama.blogspot.com/
Great (and inexpensive) idea! Love your blog.
I have looked for Chalkboard pens in the past and haven't had any luck finding them. Where did you get them?
[email protected]
stop it!
we are soooooo on the same page! i didn't do a plate charger, but did 3 of those old "tin" serving platters. you know what i mean – like from the 70's??? i love it.
i love the chargers! the black makes the dishes pop! are you cooking for thanksgiving? you must be. this is a wonderful idea!
you better show us some pics of your Halloween costume this year!
😉
p.s. love your brown turkey transferware dishes. so jealous!
That is such a great idea and I love the ornament place cards too! I seriously can't believe you got that much snow. Everybody down here is excited because this weekend our temps are only supposed to be in the 70's:)
I love the Christmasy charger, Jen!!! Great work. 🙂
Chalkboard everything is just so awesome, isn't it? About those chalkboard pens…what exactly do they do? Are they chalk? Do they erase? Do they just show up better than regular chalk?
LOVE this idea!! I am definitely going to have to make some chalkboard chargers!!
I love this idea! You are amazing!
i love the chalkboard ornament! and i'm on the hunt for chalkboard pens 🙂 another great post!
Oh, where do you get the plastic primer and the chalkboard pens? Thanks!
carol_busse at yahoo dot com
Wow! This is a terrific idea! Thanks. I plan on using this for Thanksgiving and then for the Ladies Tea that my church usually holds. And since I can use them for all kinds of celebrations, I'll be using them again… 🙂
Snow! We had two feet of snow for last Halloween. The chalkboard ideas are great.
Now this is a GREAT idea. I just love it and I'm going to make some for this years Christmas party!
I can not believe you got snow already, Jen! We are having our Indian Summer week here ~ 70's and humid. I love this project! What a great idea. I knew about the chalk pens because I do use them on my kitchen chalkboard {well, just the white at the moment}. I'll have to share this with my daughter, I think she would like this idea, plus it's a cute and inexpensive way to dress up a table.
What a GREAT idea!!!! Love it! And where do you live that you have that much snow already!?!?! Ugh! I'm not ready for that yet!
Tammy
ttscraps.blogspot.com
I didn't know about chalkboard paint either!
Oh! I love these! Growing up we had a special plate that my mom would pull out on birthdays and other special oocasions, this would be a great way to make my own version. THANKS!
I love this idea!
Mary Ellen
Great idea! I have a whole pile of gold chargers I bought forever ago, regretted in right away because I knew I would never use them and they have just been taking up space. Now, I know what to do with them! Thanks!
Love that! Especially the place cards! So cute!
I love this idea! I bought some plastic chargers at Hobby Lobby with the intentions of crafting somehow with them…now I know what to do!
Wow, your post really got me in the mood for the holidays!! And, with the snow to boot!!!
Karen
I would love for you to join us for Craftify It Thursday! Your welcome to link up any of your crafts. I also have you on my blog roll! 😀
Jennifer @ Life with the Lebedas
http://www.lebedafamily.blogspot.com
Love the idea!
Oh and snow?! Here in Carolina is was 85 and humid yesterday!!! Fall, where are you??
OH my goodness! oh MY goodness!! oh my GOODNESS!!! I am feeling some christmas pressies & ornament-gift tag making session coming on! THANK YOU FOR SHARING!
I'm blown away everyday by your fabulous ideas…and all the great ideas you find. And my deepest condolences on the snow. That's why we moved south. 🙂 Well, my husband moved cause he got a job down here. I was just happy to get away from the snow. Hope you have a lovely day. Also, I'm now a follower on Twitter. I bit the bullet. MommaRachel4
That is such a cute idea!
Another great idea I am bookmarking! I love this one!